History of Buckingham Bowls Club

In 1904 the Suburban Sports Association applied to the New Town Council for a site for a bowling green.

The area granted was the horse paddock of the Agricultural Society show grounds which had recently moved to Glenorchy and a bowling green was constructed. The green was officially opened on April 15th 1905 by the Hon C. L. Stewart, State Treasurer, as the New Town bowling green.

On April 19th 1905, a public meeting, chaired by T. A. Reynolds, an alderman and ex-mayor of the Hobart Council, formed the Buckingham Bowls Club with T. A. Reynolds as its first president and
H. C. Drake its first secretary. The name ‘Buckingham’ was chosen in preference to ‘New Town’ to indicate the Legislative Council electorate rather than a single suburb.

The club established its headquarters at the new green. By May 4th, 1905, 54 members had been admitted, some of whom had played bowls at the Hobart Club (later Royal Hobart Club). The club gained complete control of the green from the Suburban Sports Association in 1908.

The annual rental was 30 pounds. The first greenkeeper appointed by the club was A. Lyall at a salary of 60 pounds per year. There have been 59 presidents including two Premiers, Messrs W. B. Propsting and E. E. Reece.

Twenty-five men and twelve women have been made life members. Longest serving secretary of the 24 secretaries has been E. D. (Doug) Lovett who served from 1966 to 1986 and J. E. (Eddie) Caldwell, the longest serving treasurer from 1968 to 1983.

The first patron was the Hon Tetley Gant, appointed in 1920. He was a member of the Legislative Council and later Chancellor of the University. Longest serving patron was J. J. (Jack) Breen who was patron for more than 30 years and a member for more than 50 years.

Many members have served in administrative positions at association and state levels. J. D. (Jack) Clarke has been President of the STBA, TBC and ABC. Reta Trebilcock has also been President of the TWBA and AWBC. Both received OAM awards for their service to Lawn Bowls.

The AGM of October 1913 agreed to admit ladies as members and the Buckingham Ladies Bowling Club was formed. In May 1914, there were 16 members with Mrs W. Dawson as President and
Mrs F. Hawkins as Secretary. A notable contribution to the administration of the ladies’ club has been the 30 years’ service given by Mrs Hilda Clarke as Treasurer.

The main clubhouse was built in 1935 and has had many alterations and additions since. It was almost destroyed by fire in July 2003 and subsequently rebuilt. The no. 2 green was opened in 1948 and the no. 3 green in 1966.

The Ladies’ clubhouse was built in 1967. The first STBA pennant win was in 1910-11. Since then, the club has won 63 men’s pennants. The golden years of Division 1 were between 1963 and 1990 when it won 17 STBA pennants including 7 consecutive and later 6 consecutive wins. Of these, 9 were turned into state pennants. Other divisions have also won 9 state pennants. Ladies have won 28 association and 6 state pennants.

E. A. Seager won the club’s first singles championship. H. E. Downie won the second and went on to win the STBA Champion of Champions – the first STBA title by a club member. He also skipped the first Buckingham team to win a state title – the fours in 1917-18. W. (Bill) Lyons has the best record of our bowlers – 4 state singles, 3 state fours, 11 STBA singles, 11 other STBA championships and 17 club singles. Doug Cole and Roly Coad have also won a state singles title.

Rex Garwood, Jack Clarke, Stan Cure, Lyn Rodman, Jack Wilson, Ray Muckridge, Harry Braithwaite and Russ Dawson have each represented Tasmania more than 40 times.

Rex Garwood won an Australian pairs title and he and Jack Breen were members of Australian sides. Reta Trebilcock has been the best performed of our lady bowlers having represented Tasmania in 8 series. She won the ladies club singles 11 times as well as association and state championships. Other outstanding performers have been Molly Cooper, Mary Muckridge and Phyllis Beechey.

The Ladies’ and Men’s clubs united in 2002 to form a single club with John Jeffery as its first president, Neil Clark, secretary and Adrian Coetzee, treasurer.   At the time of the centenary of the club, Jack Wilson has the longest period of membership having joined in 1956. Of the Ladies, Molly Cooper and Betty Dicker have been members since 1961.